INTERNATIONAL FORUM OSLO, NORWAY

August NEWSLETTER 08/2016

2 Forum Diary 3 President’s Page 4 From the Board and the Office 6 Coming Events 9 Activities this Autumn 13 Reports 17 Erratum 17 Around Oslo

Number 412

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Visiting address Arbins gt. 2, Victoria Passasjen, 5th floor Telephone 22 83 62 90 Office email [email protected] Office hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 - 12 Neighbourhood Contact Office Staff Auditor Karin Skoglund Office Administrator Gunvor Klaveness Office Staff Vicky Alme, Lillan Akcora, Sigrid Langebrekke, May Scott

Website www.iforum.no

Forum Diary DATE EVENT TIME PAGE

September 5 Iori Roberts – The Vikings in England 19:00 6 September 8 Nicolai Astrup at Henie Onstad Art Centre 12:45 7

Committee leaders: ART COMMITTEE Bee Ellingsen mob. 907 33 874 MONTHLY MEETINGS Laila Hægh mob. 957 54 282 Ruth Klungsøyr mob. 411 43 039 SPECIAL EVENTS Wenche Mohr mob. 901 14 259

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From the President

Dear members, The summer is coming to an end, and I hope everybody have been enjoying a relaxing and wonderful holiday, even if the weather in southern Norway has been very changing. Back in Oslo, I hope you are full of energy and that you are looking forward to the new Forum season, which starts with a very interesting meeting on the September 5. As you may know, the meeting in September will be my first meeting as President of the International Forum. I have not been a member for a long time, so many of you do not know me, and I do not know all of you. I hope to change that. I am a lawyer by profession and have been working most of my time as a prosecutor, both in the Norwegian prosecution authority and abroad, in the service of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also of the United Nations. Privately, I am a mother of two sons, and a grandmother of seven. Today, I am retired from the Norwegian prosecution authority, but I still do some work internationally. When it comes to the International Forum, I am looking forward to participating in the work of the Forum and learning more about the organisation and its members. For me, it will be a question of learning by doing, and I do hope to be able to count on the support of the members. The Forum is, as I understand it, in great shape with competent members in all positions, a sustainable organisation that is sound and alive. It is important to keep up the good work. No name mentioned, none forgotten – is a good principle – but in our case, we have to praise one person, Berit Lindstrøm, for her persistence and excellent work during the four years of her presidency; work that has brought the Forum to its present standing. Berit has given much more of her time to the Forum than could be expected, and I must admit that it will not be easy to ‘fill her shoes’! But, I will do my best. Thank you Berit! Let me close by saying that I hope, with the help of you all, to secure the position of the Forum as a vital organisation also in the future. I wish you all the best for the Forum season 2016- 2017! Best regards,

Siri Frigaard President

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F R O M T H E B O A R D

Our New President

Siri Frigaard has been the chief public prosecutor and director of the Norwegian National Authority for Prosecution of Organized and Other Serious Crime since August 2005, when this office was established. The office is also responsible for the investigation and prosecution of special international crimes, such as war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Frigaard was the deputy director of the National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) in Norway, from May 2003. She has been a public prosecutor in Norway since 1985, and chief prosecutor and deputy director for the regional prosecution office in Oslo since 1993. She has also served as acting director of this office.

Previously, Ms. Frigaard worked as an assistant chief of police and prosecutor with the Oslo Police Department for about six years, primarily in charge of the investigation of organized drug trafficking. From January 2002 until May 2003 she was deputy general prosecutor for serious crimes in East Timor, in charge of the investigation and prosecution of the crimes committed in 1999. She also served as a prosecutor and special legal adviser to the general prosecutor of Albania from June 1999 to October 2001. She has represented Norway on different committees at the European Council in Strasbourg and in the Baltic Sea Co-operation concerning international legal aid.

F R O M T H E O F F I C E Membership Fee for 2016 – 2017 season The Membership Fee is NOK 500,- for full members and NOK 200,- for overseas or associate members.

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Change of Address If you have changed your address, telephone number or email address, please send an email to [email protected] or a letter to the Office.

Renewing Your Membership

• If you are moving abroad, and would like to keep in contact with us by becoming an Overseas Member, • If you have thought of giving up your membership because you are no longer taking part in any of the Forum activities, but still want to keep in contact with us, you may sign up as an Associate member, Please send an email to [email protected] or a letter to the Office before August 31. You will then continue to receive the Newsletter as you have done before and will be welcome as a guest at arrangements when there is room. If, for some reason, you do not want to continue your membership, Please send an email to [email protected] or a letter to the Office before August 31. We will then take you off our lists and stop sending you the Newsletter.

Sign Up Procedures

Time and time again, we have tried to remind you all that when you sign up for events, please remember to sign up both to the Forum Office and to the person in charge of the event. This should be done in the same email. Just click on ‘copy’ and put in the email address of the second recipient. We strongly advise that you follow this procedure, as signing up to the contact person only may cause confusing lists, overbooking and disappointment. If, for some reason, you need to cancel an event, please inform both the contact person and the Office in one email. For last minute cancellations call the contact person. Please help us avoid misunderstandings. The Office

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C O M I N G E V E N T S MONTHLY MEETING The Vikings in Great Britain

Iori Roberts was born at Anglesey in Wales in 1941. Anglesey is the largest island in the Irish Sea and the second most populated. From early on, Mr. Roberts has been fascinated by the Vikings in Britain, and particularly in Wales, his home country. A physicist by profession, he has taught physics in Jamaica, Uganda, Wales, Cayman Islands and England before settling in Norway, where he worked for more than 30 years at the Oslo International School. During the last two years of his teaching career he taught at Berg Skole. Retired, he now works as an Oslo Guide.

DATE/TIME: Monday, September 5 at 18:45 (for 19:00) For more information, please contact the IF Office.

THE ART COMMITTEE Nikolai Astrup - Norwegian Landscapes The Art Committee is pleased to invite you on a guided tour at the Henie Onstad Art Centre on September 8, 2016. This fascinating exhibition, recently shown at the charming Dulwich Picture Gallery just outside of London, has now opened at Høvikodden, in a more comprehensive version. Tone Hansen has created a very up to date and interesting look into Nikolai Astrup’s love and knowledge of nature, together with curator Mary Anne Stevens.

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Rhubarb and bonfires and surrealistic trees take on a new life, as seen through the eyes of the prolific artist, painter and printmaker from the west coast of Norway, who managed to produce and create so much in such a short lifetime.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, September 8, at 12:45 for 13:00 SIGN UP: By email to [email protected] and [email protected] or by telephone 22 83 62 90 at the Forum Office (leave a message) PLACE: Henie Onstad Art Centre, Høvikodden For more information, please contact the IF Office.

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A C T I V I T I E S

ACTIVITY GROUPS AUTUMN 2016 NON-PAYING ACTIVITIES Activities Committee: Anita Solheim. International Forum Activity Groups are formed when one or a group of members get together and organise an activity. No payment is taken. Open to all members. Interested? See contact information. If you are interested in an activity that is full, sign up anyway, as there may be cancellations.

INTERNATIONAL BOOK CLUB We meet on the third Wednesday of the month in a member’s home to discuss a book, usually a novel, chosen by the group. The hostess serves a light lunch. Our first meeting this autumn was on Wednesday, August 17. We are now able to welcome two new members!

Contact: Marit Wright: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

COOKING GROUP We are a small group of ladies who love good food and are interested in sharing recipes and learning from each other. We meet in each other’s homes once a month. We share the cost of the ingredients. Our first gathering is going to be on September 13 at Mathallen, Vulkan 5, 0178 Oslo. Trams 11, 12 and 13 stop at Schous plass. Walk down Nordre gate and cross the bridge to Vulkan. Busses 54 and 34 stop in Møllerveien. Walk down Møllerveien and turn left at the Dansens Hus. There are also good parking facilities. Liss Laan will be away, but Ruth Klungsøyr has kindly offered to host the group through the very interesting shops and restaurants at the Food Hall. Ruth will find a nice lunch place for you all to enjoy. For more information, please contact the IF Office.

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CHOIR GROUP The Forum Singers has about 30 members, and we give two concerts a year with a varied repertoire. We might sing at the IF Christmas meeting. Our conductor is Eva Landro. The choir practices every other Wednesday evenings from 18:00 - 20:30 in the parish hall (Kirkestue) at Frogner Church. Please come early so that we can start on time! The first practice is on Wednesday, August 24. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please contact Lydia Rostad.

Contact: Lydia Rostad: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

INDOOR GOLF GROUP The Indoor Golf Group will start up again on the first Thursday in November. The group meets at 10:30 and usually starts with a coffee and a chat. We have a special price for all the balls, and private lessons can be arranged. We will arrange group lessons. All levels of golfers are welcome, so do come along! Place: Fornebu Indoor Golf Centre, Snarøyveien 69, 1367 Snarøya

Contact: Hilary Sem: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

WALKING GROUP The Walking Group meets on Fridays at 10:00 at a designated location. Walking is great exercise and fun for those who like the outdoors. If you are interested, please send you mobile number and email address to Kerstin who will inform you of the next walk.

Contact: Kerstin Petersen: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

MONTHLY WEDNESDAY BRIDGE GROUP We usually meet on the second or third Wednesday of the month, depending on the holidays. We are from 8 to 12 players, rarely 16. We play at 10:30 at the home of Inger Støtvig, September 14, and the second is on Wednesday, October 12. Would you like to join us? Do not hesitate: we are a nice group of ladies! We play duplicate bridge and enjoy a light lunch afterwards. You are most welcome!

Contact: Inger Støtvig, email: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

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SWIMMING AT LYSEBU (The Danish Cultural Centre at Voksenkollen) International Forum members are most welcome to swim at Lysebu and only have to show their IF membership card at the front desk. The fee is NOK 130.- per visit. This is not a group activity as such, but IF members can use this great, newly renovated facility as a group or individually. Any questions?

Contact: Anita Solheim. For more information, please contact the IF Office.

PAYING ACTIVITIES AUTUMN 2016 Paying Activities Groups Leader: Anita Solheim. International Forum Paying Activities are organised by members who teach or lead an activity and receive payment for it. If you would like to join, please see the contact information. For more information, please contact the IF Office.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION Individual tuition and small groups. Starting date and tuition schedule will be tailored to the individual student’s needs. Contact: Soo Lan Hoegh Henrichsen (Graduate, University of Liverpool, Teacher’s College). For more information, please contact the IF Office.

SPANISH This autumn, the Spanish courses will start the first week of September and run for eight weeks. Beginners, Intermediate Level and Advanced Level. Mondays and Wednesdays. Beginners from 15:00 to 16:00; Intermediate from 16:00 to 17:00; and Advanced from 18:00 to 19:00. Contact: Margarita Ludena Stavholt. For more information, please contact the IF Office.

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TRADITIONAL ROSE PAINTING (Rosemaling) Vivian Grieg Teisner will teach rose painting for one class for Asker Husflidslag this autumn. The date has yet to be set. IF Members who are interested can contact Vivian for further information. Contact: Vivian Grieg Teisner, email: For more information, please contact the IF Office.

STANDARD DANCE AND LATIN DANCE (with partner) Standard Dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz Latin Dances: Cha Cha, Jive, Samba, Rumba

Courses are given every Tuesday from September 13 to November 29, 2016 (a total of 12 weeks), from 19:00 to 20:30 at the University of Oslo, Blindern Campus. The exact building to be announced. The price is NOK 1200.- per person, to be paid at the 1st or 2nd lesson. Contact: Sign up to Vivian Hallaråker, For more information, please contact the IF Office.

INTRODUCTION TO PILATES Forum member, Unni Skogen, proposes a Pilates introductory course for our members. The course will start on Thursday, September 8 at 10:30 and will run for 8 weeks. The price is NOK 1200.-. The venue is Ullern treningssenter, Silurveien 2, 0380 Oslo. Transport: T-bane line 3 to Åsjordet Station or bus 23 to Radiumhospitalet. Easy parking. Contact: Unni Skogen. For more information, please contact the IF Office.

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R E P O R T S

SPECIAL EVENTS Spring Trip to Larvik Early in the morning on June 13, forty “lucky ladies” met for our spring trip to Larvik. So many members wished to attend this trip, and we were sorry that the number of participants had to be limited. Soon after we started, Rosemary gave us an orientation of the history of and some tales from the towns we travelled through on our way down to Larvik. We arrived at 10:30 at Fritzøehus, where we were welcomed by a cheery Mille- Marie Treschow. Already in the hall, we became speechless: beautiful and sophisticated, consistent and accomplished was the instant impression. In the hall, Mille-Marie gave us the interesting history of her family and the house and the restoration period, the successful outcome of which we all admired. Our esteem for this woman and her work increased as we strolled through her lovely home. She guided us through beautiful dining rooms, the study, the library – ending up in a gallery for art exhibition. The house is a museum of furniture, paintings, carpets and objets d’arts and chandeliers, mostly from France. Our president gave an appreciative speech, thanking Mille Marie Treschow for letting us visit her beautiful home – telling her how privileged we felt, and presented her with the forum bowl, as well as two bottles of good wine, which of course were both French...

The visit ended with a tour of Mille-Marie’s private park, which was a sight this beautiful summer day.

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We then left Fritzøehus, and after a short bus ride arrived at another, but very different ‘pearl’ in Vestfold; Tollerodden, the home of the famous naval architect and shipbuilder, Colin Archer. Tollerodden acquired its name when it was the residence and home of customs officers from 1684 to 1789. The house was purchased by the William Archer, a Scottish immigrant, in 1826.

We walked around the picturesque promontory in the glorious sun, and Hilde – who is the driving force of the place – welcomed us and told us about Colin Archer and his family and all the voluntary work needed to run the place. Eventually, we sat down inside in nice dining rooms for a delicious lunch: the famous Tollerodden fish soup. It was just as good as promised! We finished off the meal with coffee and apple cake. The guided tour of Colin Archer’s home was indeed interesting and informative. We were impressed by all the voluntary work that has made the restoration of the site possible. Weatherwise, we were lucky, I dare say. It was a delightful day at the end of which forty very happy ladies boarded the bus back to Oslo, all feeling that we were a great experience richer. Wenche and Astri and the rest of the Special Events Committee would like to thank the participants for their great company! Wenche Mohr

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THE ART COMMITTEE Day Trip to Hovedøya and GangGalleriet Approximately thirty cheerful ladies were greeted by Inger Johanne Rasmussen on Hovedøya with these words: ‘One doesn’t get further away from Oslo in a shorter period of time!’

And how true these words were! She brought us into the GangGalleriet house with its unique history that dates back to 1827, when it was used for military purposes. It later served as a storage place for the Germans during World War II. After the war, Hovedøya was one of the places to which Norwegian women who expected children with German fathers were sent. And – so the saying goes – the Norwegian Secret Service also had their training centre here after the war, hence the blackboard in the gallery! And then there are the famous ruins! The summer exhibition shows paintings by Bente Sætrang and some unusual embroideries by Kristine Fornes. Kristine Fornes looks for specific themes, often based on fairy tales or – as in this exhibition – stories from Oslo. The flower below is seemingly embroidered on a section of a knitted sleeve, and it is one of the unique flowers found at Hovedøya, possibly dating back to the time of the Cistercian Monastery. Inger Johanne showed us her studio where her wonderful intarsia in hand- coloured fabrics are produced. She completes 3-5 works of art per year, and much of the time she is on her knees cutting and placing the different pieces of her wooden jigsaw puzzles. Much of the remaining time is spent hand-stitching the pieces together.

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Her power-point presentation brought us further into the amazing world that she has created. She started out as a weaver, but finds more freedom to express herself using her self-taught techniques. Flowers, trees, undergrowth, with references to intarsia in wood, stone and to a small extent Swedish Medieval textiles – all of this and so much more leaves you in wonder and amazement. Her pieces of art are truly unforgettable!

Her works have been exhibited in many famous galleries and can be seen on YouTube and in several Norwegian embassies around the world. Works of art, and embroideries in particular, may open up for discussions and build bridges. Her contribution is delightful! We thank Inger Johanne Rasmussen for a wonderful tour of her studio and highly recommend the trip to others! Text and photos by Vivian Grieg Teisner

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ERRATUM The Editor and the Editorial Team apologize to Mrs Kirsten Chryssanthakis for forgetting to include her name in the list of members who were thanked for their participation in the Forum. Mrs. Chryssanthakis was thanked for her unwavering commitment to the Music Committee by our President Berit Lindstrøm, who presented her with a Forum bowl and a rose. The Music Committee has, due to failing support, decided to suspend its activities. We all hope that it will be back in business at some point. The Editor and the Editorial Team A R O U N D O S L O

Oslo Chamber Music Festival August 18 to August 27, 2016 Concerts with top Norwegian and international artists are held at some of Oslo's best concert venues, including the Royal Palace, the Opera House, Akershus Fortress, Oscarshall and Oslo Concert Hall. Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster, by tel.: 815 33 133 or at your closest 7-Eleven or Narvesen kiosk. The full festival programme is published at oslokammermusikkfestival.no.

Matstreif – Culinary Encounters September 2 to 4, 2016

This event will be held at the City Hall Square. Free entrance. This is the place for food enthusiasts! The food festival features the Nordic Baking and Pastry Competition. Local food products are for sale from various stalls. For more information, see http://www.innovasjonnorge.no/no/arrangementer1/matstreif- 2016/#.V6M1Ua0vToM

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Issued by the Board of the International Forum Dispatch: Dispatch team Editor and Layout: Elizabeth Rasmussen and Editorial Team Editorial Team: Elspeth Walseth and Patricia Blackwell President: Siri Frigaard

The Editor and the Editorial Team reserve the right to edit all material. Printed by Utenriksdepartementets Hustrykkeri. August 18, 2016

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